Video Post: My May 2012 Favorite Products

Hi everyone! Below is my video post on my May 2012 favorites.

Please subscribe to my YouTube channel if you like to watch more of these video reviews.

Shu Uemura Fresh Pore Clarifying Gentle Cleansing Oil Review

Shu Uemura Celestial Garden Spring 2012: Fairy Pink Dome Blusher Swatches and Review

Shu Uemura Fairy Pink Dome Blusher

Shu Uemura Red:Juvenus Roll-Away Instant Eye Fatigue Corrector Review

Shu Uemura Eye Lash Curler Review

This Shu Uemura lash curler needs no introduction. It is the cult favorite in Sephora and a lot of makeup enthusiasts are amazed at how easy their lashes get curled using this tool in such quick, easy-to-do steps. It is also one of InStyle's Best Beauty Buys of 2011.

I've been using Shu Uemura lash curler for seven years now, and I received a brand-new one to test. I'm glad to say that the performance is still the same as it was when I first tried the Shu lash curler. Even then, Shu Uemura claims that this is a new and improved tool:

-upgraded silicone pad in a new "mushroom" shape provides a protective, stay-put edge for improved safety and optimum curl.
-upgraded patented hinge with precise engineering applies perfect amount of pressure on eyelashes
-curved angle suits all eye shapes
-calculated shape and size of frame length and ergonomic handles ensure stability and control

It gives my stick-straight asian lashes more oomph as it curls. It gives a very natural-looking curl as opposed to those sharp 90-degree bends that look crimped.


Before using Shu eye lash curler


After using Shu Uemura eye lash curler





What I love about this curler is that unlike others, this does not pinch my lids, which is a godsend! I hate the pain of pinched lids, and the shape of this is perfect for my eye. I get to curl my lashes safely, effortlessly and without pain. No wonder this is such an iconic product.

The only downside is the price. It retails for $19, but I would rather pay this price and have a great-performing tool that will not pinch and hurt my lids.

The Shades Of U Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars

Note: Media sample was provided by a representative of the company for consideration. All opinions are completely mine.

Shu Uemura Lash Builder and Ultimate Natural Mascara Review

Shu Uemura Lash Builder Eyelash Nourishing Serum

Shu Uemura Celebrates First Anniversary Of Website With A Sale!

Just letting you guys know that to celebrate the first anniversary of the redesign of the shu uemura Web site, Shu is offering customers 20% off and complimentary shipping with any purchase over $50 until May 14th!

Simply enter the promotion code “HAPPY” at the checkout.

Check out www.shuuemura.com for more details!

Shu Uemura Summer 2010: Gem Glam Collection

Shu Uemura's fantabulous color story went live today on shuuemura-usa.com. Especially eye-catching is the Flawless Glow Powder; its outer packaging is just a beautiful as the multitude of colors found on the inside. I love the packaging, they really look like jewels on a bed of smooth, flawless metal.




Shu Uemura gives us some tips on how to use this beautiful piece of cosmetics:

Soul Lee, shu uemura’s Principle Makeup Artist recommends taking a big brush, like shu uemura's 27, and swirling it over all the color blocks and simply dusting it over tinted moisturizer or foundation to get a healthy glow. "You can also use the top part of the glowing powder on the cheek bones and the temples over your favorite blush to give a subtle highlight," says Soul. "Or you can use the bottom half of the powder under the cheek bones or around the face line to give a warm glow to the face."

Soul also recommends using the different block colors individually:

“ Using shu uemura’s 8HR brush, some of the Flawless Glow Powder colors can also be used individually over eye shadow to highlight or contour eyes. You can use the white color in the inner corner of the eyes for a brightening effect. The warm peachy beige tone can be used on the lid, while the dark brown tone can be placed in the crease to lightly contour the eye.”

“The pastel purple, green and yellow colors can be used to correct skin tone: The pastel purple can be used to brighten dullness, green to tone down a reddish pimple area, and yellow to cut grayish spots. After you’ve applied foundation and/or concealer to the ‘problem area’ just lightly apply the appropriate color over it.”

Silver


Gold


White Rainbow


cream eyeshadow in Light Purple


cream eyeshadow in Light Pink


cream eyeshadow in Ivory







All products are available on www.shuuemura-usa.com.

Shu Uemura Depsea Hydrability Moisturizing Emulsion Review

It's really warming up here and I know that summer is just around the corner. I guess it's almost time to put away my thick, rich, emollient winter cream and look for a lighter, less greasy, but still moisturizing product. Shu Uemura Depsea Hydrability Moisturizing Emulsion is described on the Shu Uemura website as:

[a] refreshing lightweight moisturizing emulsion that delivers a soft and waterbreaking texture that smoothly spreads on face to replenish skin with water and lipids. 24 hour lasting moisture leaves skin feeling soft, smooth, supple with visibly enhanced translucency.

It purportedly contains deepsea water (hence the name), vitasea ferment, mineral algae and hyaluronic acid microspheres. It comes in a tall, sanitary pump dispenser that contains 75 ml of product. You will enjoy one bottle for months as it is substantial in size. Here are my thoughts on my experience with this particular product.



The first thing I noticed was the scent. It has a pleasant, fresh but not cloying scent that I really liked. I also noticed that it is runny as this is an emulsion as opposed to heavy cream. Even then, I only used a small amount (quarter-sized blob), and that should cover the entire face. I liked that it feels light on the skin as this is not a rich cream, but it moisturizes enough to keep the skin supple and hydrated throughout the day. It didn't break me out which is a major plus. I also like the fact that it is non-greasy, thus would be great for those with normal, combination or oily skin. I use this as a day moisturizer especially since the weather is getting warmer. Under makeup, the finish is soft, dewy, but not greasy. I really like it as this is an alternative to my day cream. Shu Uemura also claims that this emulsion is supposed to improve skin’s self-moisturizing ability and ultimately locking-in moisture for 24 hours.

The downside is that this does not have SPF, so it is important that you slather sunscreen after application of this emulsion. I also would not recommend this to those with very dry skin, but normal to oily and combination skin can definitely benefit from this.

All in all, I like the emulsion for warmer weather, and it also looks great under makeup. Best of all, it didn't break out my acne-prone skin.

The Shades Of U rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars

NOTE: A media sample was provided by a representative of the company. For more information on the matter, please read the Disclosure Page.

Shu Uemura for Christina Hendricks at the Golden Globes

Photo Credit: JustJared.com

Celebrity Makeup Artist, Vanessa Scali for Mad Men’s Christina Hendricks

Inspiration:
“Effortless and chic: sheer satin eyes, pink milk-maid cheeks and a siren mouth. Christina’s dress has a sexy, yet soft look. We mirrored this with her make up. I love the contrast of the angelic, innocent face with the sexy edge of a strong mouth.”

How To:

PREPARE: I used shu uemura’s new Depsea Hydrability Moisture Cream. This cream seriously hydrates, yet disappears into the skin leaving the skin feeling fresh and smooth.

UNDEREYE: Lancôme’s Effacernes in Porcelain.

FOUNDATION: Applied minimal foundation, because Christina has nearly flawless skin. I used shu uemura’s Nobara Cream Cover Stick foundation.

BLUSH: I used shu uemura’s brand new Satin Radiant Stick Blush on the apples of the cheeks.

HIGHLIGHTER/EYESHADOW: I used Satin Radiant Stick in Highlight all over the eye (from lash line to brow) then swept it down to highlight the very peak of the cheekbones.

EYE LINER: To define and elongate the lashline, I used shu uemura’s Drawing Pencil in Black. Also, to open up the eye, I lined the inside rim of the eye with shu uemura’s Eye Light White.

LASHES: For luxurious lashes we added shu uemura’s Flare eyelashes in Black and finished with a coat of Ultimate Expression Mascara.

LIPS: I used shu uemura’s Rouge Unlimited #134

Shu Uemura Products Used:

Depsea Hydrabilty Moisturizing Cream (NEW!)



Satin Radiant Highlight Stick – from Égérie, the Spring 2010 color collection that just went up online (NEW!)



Nobara Cover Cream Stick Foundation

Drawing Pencil in Black

Eye Light Pencil White

Flare False Eye Lashes

Ultimate Expression Mascara

All products available at http://www.shuuemura-usa.com

L'Wren Scott Backstage Beauty Report from Lancôme

“Elegance
is refusal.”
—Diana Vreeland

New York Fashion Week
Fall 2009: L’Wren Scott
Backstage at L’Wren Scott

This simple quote perfectly summed up the L’Wren Scott Fall 2009 show, for which Aaron De Mey, Lancôme’s artistic director for makeup, was the lead artist. Instead of hundreds of guests, a jammed backstage and models wearing layers of bright clothes and accessories, everything was calm—and as chic as could be. Only a few dozen guests were invited to attend the show, held at the all-white Gagosian Gallery in New York’s Chelsea art district. The atmosphere, and the clothes, were all about a sultry minimalism, sexy rather than spartan.




The Look:
• Sexy chic
• 20’s/30’s
• Evening glamour in daylight

Backstage hummed with activity as Aaron and his team interpreted
L’Wren’s beauty inspiration—the French women in Jacques Henri Lartigue’s iconic black and white photos from the ‘20s and ‘30s. The smoky eye was a must, of course, and Aaron relied on an unusual trick to achieve it. First, he swept black eyeliner along the upper and lower lash line and coated lashes with ÔSCILLATION VIBRATING MASCARA. Next, he held the flame from a lighter against a white plate, mixed the resulting black soot with a clear JUICY TUBES right on the plate and dabbed his concoction onto the models’ eyes. (Don’t try this at home! You can use Aaron’s COLOR FEVER GLOSS in Piha Black on eyelids instead.) Brows were left natural and brushed into place.

Aaron continued the moody theme with COLOR FEVER LIPSTICK in Berry Sensual, a matte shade from his upcoming Fall 2009 Declaring Indigo collection, which he applied with his fingers; a lip brush quickly cleaned up the lines. The nails, done by top editorial manicurist Yuna Park, were a matching shade of burgundy, the limited-edition LE VERNIS in Rouge Bordeaux. With so much color intensity on the eyes and lips, a clean and pretty complexion was key. Shu Uemura MATTE LOOSE FACE POWDER did the trick, as did Yves Saint Laurent’s TOUCHE ÉCLAT under the eyes to lift and brighten. COLOR DESIGN CREAM BLUSH in Freeze Frame, applied under the eye near the temple and down the center of the nose, was used as a highlighter. The finishing touch for a few models?
A loose mask of fishnet fabric delicately framing the face.

Products Used:
• Lancôme Le Crayon Khôl in Black Ebony
• Lancôme Ôscillation Mascara
• Lancôme Juicy Tubes in Pure (on the eyelid)
• Lancôme Color Fever Lipstick in Berry Sensual (Fall 2009)
• Lancôme Le Vernis in Rouge Bordeaux
• Lancôme Color Design Cream Blush in Freeze Frame
• Shu Uemura Matte Loose Face Powder
• YSL Touche Éclat

81st Academy Awards Red Carpet Beauty Report from Lancôme

It’s the biggest night in Hollywood and the stars shined on the red carpet at the 81st annual Academy Awards. Lancôme graced the faces of three Best Actress nominees; Kate Winslet, Anne Hathaway and Angelina Jolie. We’ve got the exclusive scoop on the looks created straight from the makeup artists who worked with these gorgeous ladies.


Photo source: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images and JustJared.com

Kate Winslet looked beautiful in a multi-toned one shoulder YSL dress. Celebrity makeup artist Jillian Dempsey wanted to create a classic, natural look. First, she prepped Kate’s skin with Lancôme La Base Pro primer to create a smooth canvas for a polished complexion. She lightly brushed Lancôme Brow Expert in Naturel on the brows to play up their natural shape. Jillian Dempsey for Avon Pro Eyeshadow Trio in Ice Shimmer was applied to the eyes and the lashes were coated with Jillian Dempsey for Avon Pro Mascara in Black. To create a sheer, neutral colored lip, Lancôme Color Fever Lipstick in Old Flame was applied for a soft, matte finish.


Photo source: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images and JustJared.com

Anne Hathaway looked regal in a sparkling jewel encrusted Armani Privé gown. Her makeup look was sophisticated and elegant. Anne’s perfect brows framed her face and her long, lush lashes really made her eyes pop. She donned a deep berry-toned lip to complete her look. To get Anne’s look, try Lancôme Le Crayon Poudre in Sable to fill in and shape the brows. Lightly dust Lancôme Color Design Eye Shadow in Ciel du Soir over the entire eyelid followed by Le Crayon Khôl in Black Ebony applied to the upper lash line. Lightly smudge so there are no harsh lines. Apply several coats of Lancôme Ôscillation Mascara for a faux-lash effect. For just a hint of color, dust Lancôme Blush Subtil in Sheer Amourose on the apples of the cheeks. To create her berry stained pout, apply Lancôme Color Fever Lipstick in Brickhouse.


Photo source: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images


Photo source: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images and JustJared.com

Angelina Jolie looked stunning in a black strapless Elie Saab gown paired with beautiful emerald-colored jewels which added a striking burst of color. Celebrity makeup artist Mary Burton created Angelina’s flawless look. Mary applied Le Crayon Khôl in Black Ebony to the upper and lower lash lines. She emphasized the shape of Angelina’s eyes by applying more liner to the outer corners of the eye. Several coats of Ôscillation Mascara were applied to the upper lashes for added volume and length. Mary put a touch of pink to the cheeks using Shu Uemura Blush in M Pink 31 and applied it to her cheekbones near the temple. To create ultra-shiny and luminous lips, Mary used Juicy Tubes in Spring Fling.

All Lancôme products are available at www.lancome-usa.com.